In view of recurrent confusion, I think we have to look at them more closely. Keys furnished by Rawat ji at efi thread <https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!topic/indiantreepix/abzm93bB9tc> : Leaves sparsely hairy above, membranous, spikes grey-brown, glistening .......*C.capitata* Leaves tomentose above, thick, spikes pale yellow, not glistening....................*C.tomentosa*
Keys are also given in Flora of China <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108808>: Subshrubs, 10-20 cm; leaves elliptic. 4 *C*. *tomentosa* <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200007000> + Herbs perennial; leaves rhombic-obovate, rhombic-oblong, broadly ovate, obovate-oblong, or elliptic. (2) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108808#KEY-1-2> 2 (1) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108808#KEY-1-1> Stem ascending or erect; leaves rhombic-obovate or rhombic-oblong; flower clusters in racemes. 1 *C*. *prostrata* <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006999> + Stem erect; leaves not rhombic-obovate or rhombic-oblong; flower clusters in spikes. (3) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108808#KEY-1-3> 3 (2) <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=108808#KEY-1-2> Leaves broadly ovate or obovate-oblong; flowers grayish black when dried; staminodes 0.6-1 mm. 2 *C*. *capitata* <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006997> Let us take a critical look at their descriptions from Flora of China: *Cyathula tomentosa* (Roth) Moquin-Tandon in Candolle <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200007000> *Subshrubs 10-20 cm tall.* *Stem and branches densely gray tomentose*. *Leaves elliptic, 5-7 × 2-5 cm, both surfaces densely tomentose, base rounded. Flower clusters in dense spikes, 1-2 cm in diam. *Bracts shiny, apex pointed or hooked. Tepals of perfect flowers lanceolate, apex acute. Pseudostaminodes ca. 0.5 mm, hairy at margin, apex fimbriate. Utricles yellow, ellipsoid or obovoid. Seeds ellipsoid, smooth. Fl. Jun. *Waste places; 1800-2300 m.* Guizhou, Xizang [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim]. *Cyathula capitata* Moquin-Tandon in Candolle <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006997> *Herbs perennial, 50-100 cm.* Roots brownish gray or brownish red, stout. *Stem erect, dark purple or yellowish brown, nearly quadrangular, branched, pilose.* *Petiole 0.5-1.5 cm, pilose; leaf blade broadly ovate or obovate-oblong, 5-14 × 3-7 cm, papery, both surfaces pilose and ciliate, base cuneate, apex caudate. Flower clusters in dichasial inflorescences, globose or ellipsoid, 2-4 cm in diam., simple or clustered in spikes; *rachis 2-4.5 mm, tomentose. Bracts 3-4 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate. Flower clusters at axils of bracts, with some perfect flowers and 1 or 2 unisexual ones. Tepals of perfect flowers dark purple, lanceolate, 3-4 mm, abaxially hairy at base, apex acuminate; imperfect ones yellow, lanceolate-subulate, ca. 3 mm, rigid, apex hooked. Filaments ca. 3 mm, pilose at base; pseudostaminodes rectangular, 0.6-1 mm, parted and fimbriate at apex. Ovary hairy at base. Utricles grayish yellow, ovate-oblong, ca. 3 mm, glabrous. Seeds shiny, ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm, smooth. Fl. Aug, fr. Oct. *Hillsides; 1700-2300 m.* Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Vietnam]. In view, your plant should be Cyathula capitata <https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/species/a---l/a/amaranthaceae/cyathula/cyathula-capitata> being a *herb with simple globose inflorescence; with stem dark purple or yellowish brown, nearly quadrangular, branched and pilose; leaves being obovate and base cuneate with both surfaces pilose and ciliate*. On Sat, 14 Nov 2020 at 15:26, Saroj Kasaju <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Members, > > Location: Kathmandu Valley > Date: October 2020 > Elevation: 2400m. > Habitat : Wild > How to distinguish between C. tomemtosa and C. capitata ? > > Thank you. > > Saroj Kasaju > -- With regards, J.M.Garg -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/indiantreepix/CA%2BiuSFC2wD_8uvwUggw3VxUwhN5dsTr6t5SUN-93mMuwoXUC-g%40mail.gmail.com.
